The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) November 2020 Hiring Situation indicated that job growth is stalling, with only 245,000 new jobs gained last month. Payroll employment is still 9.8 million short of pre-crisis levels—at November’s pace, it would take until 2024 to return to pre-crisis employment levels. The unemployment rate edged down to 6.7%.
Topics: Jobs Report, November
[ twin-dem-ik ]
WHAT DOES TWINDEMIC MEAN?
Twindemic refers to the dual threat of a severe flu outbreak on top of the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall and winter of 2020
While the flu vaccine is an important preventative measure every year, it is arguably more important than ever in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. By getting a flu vaccine, you are helping to protect yourself and others from the flu. Since COVID-19 is also a threat this winter, it is important to do what we can to lower our risk of getting ill.
“While we wait for COVID vaccines to be broadly available, the flu remains the number one cause of vaccine-preventable death in the United States,” explains Dr. Jonathan Perlin, president of clinical operations and chief medical officer at HCA Healthcare. “By getting your flu shot and following the CDC’s advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19, you will be in the best position to protect yourself, your family and your community from illness this winter.”
In the Northern Hemisphere, we typically take cues from our Southern Hemisphere counterparts to predict when seasonal influenza will rise and peak. In years past, the Southern Hemisphere generally has its flu season from April to September. In the Northern Hemisphere, cases rise during the fall months and peak between December and January.
This year the good news – yes, good news – is that the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing a very mild flu season. For example, Australia reported a little over 21,000 cases of flu by the end of August, compared to nearly a quarter of a million at the same time in 2019. Experts theorize that this is due to an unprecedented number of people getting vaccinated and behavior related to the pandemic such as social distancing and mask wearing.
However, this is not the time to let our guards down.
“If both influenza and COVID-19 surge at the same time, it could be very devastating. A ‘twindemic’ is something that we can avoid,” said Dr. Kenneth Sands, HCA Healthcare’s chief epidemiologist. “While what we’re seeing in the Southern Hemisphere is positive, we need everyone to come together and continue to do their part. We’re advising everyone over 6 months to get a flu shot, just as we do each year. By getting the flu vaccine, masking and distancing we can make it through flu season.”
In 2020, innovative measures are being stood up to ensure safe and convenient access to influenza vaccinations including drive-thru flu shot clinics and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services authorizing state-licensed pharmacists to administer the flu shot to children starting at age 3.
How can you tell the difference between COVID-19 and seasonal flu?
COVID-19 and influenza are both contagious respiratory illnesses, caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses: Types A and B. The symptoms can appear similar, however there are key differences that you need to be aware of.
Both COVID-19 and flu can spread from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Both are spread mainly by droplets made when people with the illness (COVID-19 or flu) cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
It may be possible that a person can get infected by physical human contact like shaking hands or by touching a surface or object that has virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose, or possibly your eyes. Both flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 may be spread to others by people before they begin showing symptoms, with very mild symptoms or who never developed symptoms (asymptomatic).
According to the CDC, common signs and symptoms that COVID-19 and flu share include:
COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms and people can be contagious for longer.
Another important difference is there is a vaccine to protect against flu. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
Flu viruses can cause mild to severe illness, while COVID-19 can be more serious. A key difference in the two is that COVID-19 may cause a change in or loss of taste and smell, while that is not experienced with the flu.
Available flu vaccines this season
Those who are interested in getting a flu shot have multiple options. Trivalent (three-component) and quadrivalent (four-component) flu vaccines are approved for the 2020-2021 flu season.
The CDC breaks down available flu shots below:
Trivalent flu vaccines include:
Quadrivalent flu vaccines include:
Stay vigilant to protect yourself and others
In addition to a flu shot, individuals can also help prevent getting the flu and help stop the spread of COVID-19 by taking these simple steps:
Consider getting the annual flu vaccine to protect yourself and those around you. Call your healthcare provider today to schedule your flu shot.
Topics: Coronavirus, Health & Safety, Flu
We are proud to share that our President and CEO, Brendan Courtney, has been recognized with a 2020 South Florida Business & Wealth Apogee Award!
Topics: Employee Spotlight, HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, Apogee Awards
As we near the end of 2020, it’s probably safe to say that we could all use some holiday cheer. But with the number of COVID-19 cases on the rise throughout the country, it’s important to remain vigilant. While it might be hard to hear, that means the way we celebrate the holidays this year will be a little different.
“Conventional wisdom would be that this is not the year to have a big, multigenerational get together with people that you haven’t seen for a while,” says Dr. Carl Vartian, an infectious disease specialist and chief medical officer at HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake.
Dr. Vartian understands the desire to see loved ones, but is concerned that people will let their guard down, not thinking about wearing a face mask at grandma’s house or not practicing social distancing when around cousins they haven’t seen in a year.
College-age kids will also be returning home from their universities, where there have been more than 252,000 cases at more than 1,700 U.S. schools, according to a survey conducted by the New York Times.
“Since we don’t really know who has [COVID-19], who doesn’t have it, who could be an asymptomatic carrier of it, I think it’s just best to avoid contact with people you haven’t seen for a while because you really don’t know where they’ve been or what they’ve been exposed to and what they might be carrying,” Dr. Vartian says.
Or, you might be the one who is unknowingly spreading the virus.
Virtual-only activities, events and gatherings pose the lowest risk of spreading COVID-19. Instead of meeting in person, Dr. Vartian suggests using Skype, Zoom or FaceTime to share a meal virtually with long-distance loved ones.
Celebrating in-person carries higher risk and myriad precautions should be taken into consideration if individuals from different households will be gathering. If you do decide to host family and friends for the holidays, Dr. Vartian recommends keeping your gathering small, outside and socially distanced.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines for holiday celebrations, noting that even “small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise of COVID-19 cases.” In Canada, where Thanksgiving was celebrated on Oct. 12, there was a spike in cases three weeks after the holiday.
The CDC shares these factors to consider when deciding whether to host or attend an event:
When it comes to food, Dr. Vartian says it’s important to avoid potluck-style dinners this year, where everyone uses the same serving utensils and passes around dishes. Instead, consider having everyone bring their own food this year (which might be a welcome change for stressed hosts!) or support a favorite local restaurant and order individual meals for everyone.
And don’t forget about the flu.
“Get your flu shot,” Dr. Vartian says. “We suspect that flu season may not be quite as bad just simply because people are wearing masks, they’re social distancing and they’re that much more concerned about hand hygiene, but that remains to be seen. Dual-infection can occur, so you just have to be careful. You can’t do anything yet about vaccinating against COVID, but you can do something about the flu.”
Should you find that your Thanksgiving celebration does produce an actual medical emergency, delay dessert and head to the nearest emergency room. HCA Healthcare ERs are equipped to care for common Thanksgiving health matters such as cuts and burns, food poisoning and chest pain.
In the end, remember this from Dr. Vartian: “You certainly do not want a festive time to become the scene of something really unfortunate, where someone gets sick and ends up in the hospital. That would not be a good way to remember a family get together. Stay safe during Thanksgiving 2020. If we all continue to do our part to curb the spread of COVID-19, I’m optimistic that the 2021 holiday season will look much more normal.”
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions and HCA Healthcare is demonstrating leadership in our behaviors both inside and outside of work so that we can stay as healthy as possible to respond to our patients. But, we can’t do this without the help of those around us. Thank you for safely celebrating the holidays this year! Find more tips and considerations from the CDC here.
Lower risk
Moderate risk
Higher risk
Topics: Coronavirus, Health & Safety, Holiday
Growing numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths are troubling; facemasks can slow the trend
100 of the nation’s top health care systems, representing thousands of hospitals in communities across the U.S., have come together with an urgent plea for all Americans – mask up, because wearing a facemask is our best chance at slowing the surging COVID-19 pandemic now.
More than 11.5 million Americans have tested positive for the virus – including an additional one million in just the past week – leading to nearly 250,000 deaths.
The current trends are daunting and frightening. If the nation stays on its current course, hospital leaders are increasingly concerned that more healthcare facilities will be overwhelmed as shortages of healthy caregivers make it difficult to handle a rapidly increasing number of patients. Unfortunately, this is already happening in parts of our country.
The next several months will be critical. Though there has been positive news about vaccine development, no one knows when those vaccines will be ready for widespread use. In the meantime, everyone must remain vigilant, take precautions and follow public health orders.
The country has reached a tipping point. The power to do what is right is now in the hands of everyone everywhere.
Currently, a public service message is running in The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Additionally, hospitals and health systems across the country are uniting to share these messages regionally.
The message reads:
“As the top nationally-ranked hospitals, we know it’s tough that we all need to do our part and keep wearing masks. But, here’s what we also know: The science has not changed. Masks slow the spread of COVID-19. So, please join us as we all embrace this simple ask: Wear. Care. Share with #MaskUp. Together, wearing is caring. And together, we are saving lives.”
In an effort to reach a broader audience, the public service also includes messages on digital platforms, social media, online information, links to vital health resources and more. Combining resources demonstrates that these health organizations are working together, will accomplish this today and will get through this together.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points to recent studies that have shown facemasks successfully limit spread of the COVID-19 virus. Wearing facemasks protect in key ways: by protecting the wearer against inhalation of harmful pathogens and particulates and by preventing exposure of those around the wearer.
In addition to masking, the CDC suggests that everyone minimize the number of non-household contacts, maintain a physical distance of at least six feet, and limit the amount of time around others, especially while indoors and in poorly ventilated areas. For further information about masking guidelines – how to choose a mask, how to properly wear a mask – visit the CDC website.
Topics: Healthcare, Coronavirus
This Thanksgiving we would like to take a moment to share our gratitude and thank each of our clinical and corporate team members for your hard work and dedication to our organization over this year. We are grateful for your dedication and the continued impact that you make on patient care delivery.
We are thankful that the HWS organization is made up of incredible associates who work hard each day, creating both career opportunities for healthcare professionals and ensuring the delivery of patient care across the country. In times of uncertainty, it is important to remember that we are all a part of something so much bigger than our ourselves and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others every day is something we all should be truly grateful for.
Although the holiday might look different this year, we hope that you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving!
While 2020 has tested each of us and our communities in many unprecedented ways, we invite you to comment on what you are grateful for this year.
Topics: Special Holiday Message
As we continue to grow our MSP program and preserve our position as the healthcare industry’s largest vendor neutral healthcare MSP, we are pleased to announce that Jodi Cook will be joining HealthTrust as our new Vice President of MSP Operations. In her role, Jodi will serve as a dedicated resource for our staffing vendor partner community with a focus on the continued cultivation of our valued partnerships within the healthcare staffing industry. Jodi has nearly 25 years of experience in the healthcare staffing industry branch operations and MSP program management leadership at some of the largest and most recognized healthcare staffing and recruitment firms. Jodi lives in Pennsylvania with her fiancé and teenage son. When she isn’t working, she enjoys biking, hiking, snowboarding and most outdoor activities.
We are looking forward to the positive impact Jodi’s energy, passion and expertise will bring to our organization and our continued pursuit of operational excellence. Please join us in welcoming Jodi Cook to HealthTrust Workforce Solutions!
We're honored to announce that HealthTrust Workforce Solutions CFO Jennifer Chemtov was recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts in the 2020 edition of Global Power 150- Women in Staffing.
The 2020 Global Power 150 — Women in Staffing list is comprised of professionals who are doing what it takes to boost the bottom lines of the businesses they serve while ensuring the safety and health of those under their employment. They have devoted themselves to developing and guiding diversity amid renewed focus on these issues. They are dedicated to their firms’ women leadership programs and involved in efforts to serve females in their communities as well.
Please join us in congratulating all of the women recognized in the 2020 Global Power 150 — Women in Staffing. We thank you for leading the way and celebrate those women who continue to take our industry forward while inspiring you to take notice of others who are making a difference in varied ways.
Topics: HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, SIA
Today is Veterans Day, which offers us a special opportunity to express our gratitude to those who served in the United States military, especially the many among us now working within the HealthTrust Workforce Solutions family. Thank you to all of the courageous individuals put their lives in harm's way to protect our country and ensure the freedoms that Americans embrace each and every day. I would also like to thank families of veterans, because, just like our veterans, their families are just as courageous, making countless sacrifices to protect our great country and all of the rights we enjoy everyday.
As the coronavirus continues to impact our communities and we all deal with a lot of uncertainty, we remain concerned about the veterans and their families who struggle every day to make ends meet. HWS is proud to partner with the United Way of Broward County’s MISSION UNITED, which provides veteran employment services, legal assistance, education, financial services, health and housing support. I am proud that HealthTrust has been provided the opportunity to assist such a worthy cause. If you are interested in learning more about what you can do to support veterans as they transition back to civilian life, I invite you to visit unitedway.org/mission-united to learn more about this growing program in cities across the country.
We are also proud that our parent company, HCA Healthcare, has been recognized by Military Times as one of the country’s best employers based on the organization’s military-connected employment programs, benefits and support efforts. Since 2012, HCA Healthcare has hired more than 39,000 veterans, active-duty personnel and military spouses.
Today and every day we are grateful for our veterans and honor all who have served.
Topics: Special Holiday Message
The October Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2020 Hiring Situation reported job growth of 638,000 new jobs last month, with the unemployment rate dropping down one percentage point to 6.9%. In October, employment in healthcare rose by 58,300 new jobs, with the largest gains occurring in ambulatory care settings (50,700) and hospitals (+16,200) These increases were partially offset by a decline of 9,000 in nursing and residential care facilities.
Topics: Jobs Report, Coronavirus, October
